Bayelsa: PDP withdraws petition against INEC, APC from tribunal

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Tuesday withdrew its petition against the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) before the Bayelsa Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja.

The PDP had challenged the emergency of David Lyon of the APC as the duly elected governor in the November 2019 governorship election before the February 13, Supreme Court’s verdict.

At the resumed sitting on Tuesday, counsel to the petitioner, John Okoriko informed the three-man panel headed by Justice Muhammad Sirajo that he has an application before the tribunal.

Okoriko further said that the application which was dated and filed on February 18 was premised on six grounds and supported by a 14- paragraphs affidavit.

In the application, the counsel prayed for an order granting the petitioner leave to withdraw the petition against the respondents in view of the Supreme Court’s judgment of February 13 which declared the petitioner and its candidate, Sen. Douye Diri as the winner of the November16 governorship election.

The application also urged the tribunal to deem the application as properly filed and adopt same for the interest of peace and justice in Bayelsa state.

In addition, the application prayed the tribunal to make additional orders as it deems fit in the circumstance.

But, Justice Sirajo in response said the petitioner cannot seek to withdraw his application in the interest of peace and justice, but on grounds that the petition is incompetent based on the present turn of event.

Counsel to INEC, Ibrahim Bawa, on his part said he has no objection to the application, pointing out that the petitioner’s counsel failed to comply with Rule 20, paragraph 29 (4) of the election rules which states that there must be a signed affidavit by the petitioner himself attached to the application.

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Counsel to the APC, P. Abah equally said in pursuant to the Supreme Court’s judgment, he has no objection to the petitioner withdrawing his petition.

Justice Sirajo therefore, said that “we have noted your observations and in the absence of no objection, the application is granted. The petition is hereby struck out.”

Before now, the Green Party of Nigeria (GNP) had withdrawn its petition against the APC on January 27, while the Action Peoples Party ( APP), Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party (ANDP) and the Democratic Peoples Party ( DPP) withdrew their petitions on January 29.